GIANT Reddish Bristleworm...hopefully

[Stray32]

After reading the "Kraken" thread the other day, I decided to take a gander at my tank with a flashlight once the lights had been off for a few hours.

Lo and Behold what do I see, but a giant, probably 8-10 inches long reddish worm crawling through one of my rocks. I didn't see the head, but I watched it crawl through, hoping the tail would come, but it just kept crawling.

So I am hoping its a bristleworm and not a eunicid. Is there a way to tell other than checking out the head? I am hoping he is in the same rock next time I see him, it's small enough to take out of the tank and dip.

I will try and get a picture soon.

 

[LeslieH]

What you call a bristleworm is what I call an amphinomid or fireworm. They have very obvious clumps of bristles down the body. The bristles on eunicids are much smaller & won't be at all obvious.

 

[Felix T Cat]

I watched a red worm work his way through my rock the other day (see post http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1556619 ) I believe him to be a bristle because I could see all the bristles down the sides of his body.

 

[LeslieH]

Yes, that's Eurythoe. They are detritivores and scavengers.